A treasure trove of Versace gowns - unworn! - have been unearthed and put back into circulation at Ricky's Exceptional Treasures, an eBay.com store, including a frock identical to one worn by Halle Berry at the London premier of Batman. Many of the gowns date back to 1986 when Gianni himself was helping to create what we now consider that iconic 80s look."Gianni Versace was one of the most prominent and important designers for a particular era, so to find any of his designs of note is very important," explains Constance White, Style Director for eBay in a podcast interview with Fashiontribes (above), particularly in the context of fashion's current 80s obsession. "The fact that he's dead unfortunately makes them worth more; he doesn't design anymore, so whatever he did design is finite in supply."

Valerie Steele, Director of The Museum at F.I.T. concurs. "Versace is one of the most important modern fashion designers - any collection of his red carpet dresses is definitely newsworthy. Both Donatella and Gianni are an important part of fashion history, and this auction will certainly be exciting for collectors. More and more people are collecting fashion now, collecting it to wear and because fashion, at its highest level, is like a work of art."

The total value of the dresses is estimated at around $800,000, but many of the auctions are starting at between $999 & $1449...an unbelievable steal for a va-voom piece that not only boasts a name like Versace, but, typical of many topnotch Italian design houses, is beautifully made. "It's not only a piece of fashion history," says White, "but a great buy."

A treasure trove of Versace gowns - unworn! - have been unearthed and put back into circulation at Ricky's Exceptional Treasures, an eBay.com store, including a frock identical to one worn by Halle Berry at the London premier of Batman. Many of the gowns date back to 1986 when Gianni himself was helping to create what we now consider that iconic 80s look."Gianni Versace was one of the most prominent and important designers for a particular era, so to find any of his designs of note is very important," explains Constance White, Style Director for eBay in a podcast interview with Fashiontribes (above), particularly in the context of fashion's current 80s obsession. "The fact that he's dead unfortunately makes them worth more; he doesn't design anymore, so whatever he did design is finite in supply."

Valerie Steele, Director of The Museum at F.I.T. concurs. "Versace is one of the most important modern fashion designers - any collection of his red carpet dresses is definitely newsworthy. Both Donatella and Gianni are an important part of fashion history, and this auction will certainly be exciting for collectors. More and more people are collecting fashion now, collecting it to wear and because fashion, at its highest level, is like a work of art."

The total value of the dresses is estimated at around $800,000, but many of the auctions are starting at between $999 & $1449...an unbelievable steal for a va-voom piece that not only boasts a name like Versace, but, typical of many topnotch Italian design houses, is beautifully made. "It's not only a piece of fashion history," says White, "but a great buy."